Description
Eyes to the Sky is the fourth studio album by the American singer and songwriter Randy Matthews, released on Myrrh Records in spring 1976, a division of Word. (Also released by Myrrh in the UK the same year.) The album was recorded mid 1975 by Brent Maher at Creative Workshop in Nashville, Tennessee; with Austin Roberts producing. (Roberts did also produce the Petra classic Come and Join Us, released on Myrrh in 1977.) Arranged by Kim Rose who also played keyboards and Arp synthesizer on the album. All songs written by Randy Matthews except track A1 co-written with Austin Roberts and Kim Rose, track A3 written by Roberts and Rose, and track A4 written by Roberts and John Reese (a song also covered by Cindy Kent on her 1973-album, I Am Your Servant).
For the recording of the album producer Austin Roberts enlisted the same ace Nashville session musicians as used on his own solo album Rocky recorded the same year: keyboardist Ron Oates; Billy Sanford, Reggie Young and Steve Gibson on guitars; a rhythm section consisting of bassist Joe Osborn and drummer Jerry Carrigan; with Farrell Morris on percussion.
Eyes to the Sky turned out to be the final studio album by Randy Matthews released on Myrrh Records, and actually his last studio album of the ’70s. The same year Myrrh released a double live album by Matthews entitled Now Do You Understand?, and the compilation album The Best of Randy Matthews followed the next year. In 1976 Matthews joined forces with two other Jesus rock pioneers, Danny Taylor and Mike Johnson (the latter of The Exkursions fame), and this trio recorded an album simply called Matthews, Taylor, and Johnson released on NewPax Records in 1976.
Randy’s fourth studio LP often has more of a pop edge than Son of Dust – i.e., mid-rocking material with more polish in the mix, more bgvs (sometimes with a soulful gospel flair) and more keyboards (courtesy of synth man Kim Rose). «Pennsylvania Song» rocks proudly as it documents Randy’s being unplugged before a concert crowd of 25,000: “you pulled the plug and drained my soul, but I know I left a ring around the tub of tradition, I saw some dance and sing”. The solemn Neil Young vibes return for the classic ballad «Oh My» (“I talked with junkies, I ate with whores, I stuck your stickers on bar room doors”). Also includes the somewhat controversial «Captain» (something about the line “the captain was deceived”). A touch of sitar on «It Took A Carpenter» and «There’s A Shadow Passing Over The Land», ethnic recorder on «Wounded Warrior». Nice electric guitar work in spots, whether rocking hard on the closing «Four Horsemen» or flowing along to the smooth groove of «Guardian Angel». Produced by Austin Roberts, who also co-wrote three of the songs. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th edition]
Everything about this album makes it the best one that Randy Matthews has ever put out. Not only is it a better produced and better looking album than most Christian LP’s, it also has an underlying theme which presents Matthews as a prophet of sorts in the Jesus music field.
A few of the selections, such as «It Took A Carpenter» and «Paid In Full» (country-rock with southern gospel seasoning), are typical of Matthew’s earlier work, but, for the most part, it is hard to classify the numbers of ‘Eyes to the Sky’. They are usually the slower ballad type, but certainly show diversity through a combination of Randy’s voice, Kim Rose’s fine synthesizer work, and Austin Robert’s producing talents.
In many ways, the messages of the album are pretty negative, but how many prophets have you read about who were “Caspar Milquetoasts?” Matthews has become the Christian equivalent of Neil Young – not musically, but lyrically… often portraying doubts, the blues, difficult aspects of living, and sometimes blunt doomsdayism. «Oh My», «There’s A Shadow Passing Over The Land» and «Four Horsemen» are rather unpleasant views of things to come; while «Captain» and «Pennsylvania» are more negative than positive.
Despite the mix-down and production, there is one minor problem: the guitars and sometimes the drums are much too weak and laid back for Randy’s type of music. His lyrics and compositions are fairly gutsy, and these accompaniments just don’t match up.
‘Eyes to the Sky’ is certainly unique in Jesus music at this time, prophetic not only lyrically, but also as a standard of overall excellence to be attained in future releases by other artists. [Mark Hollingsworth, Harmony, Vol. 1, No. 6, March/April 1976]
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “It Took A Carpenter” – 3:09
A2. “Oh My” – 3:20
A3. “Paid In Full” – 2:38
A4. “There’s A Shadow Passing Over The Land” – 3:03
A5. “Wounded Warrior” – 3:57
Side Two
B1. “Captain” – 4:04
B2. “Guardian Angel” – 3:10
B3. “Pennsylvania Song” – 3:47
B4. “In The Morning” – 4:32
B5. “Four Horsemen” – 4:11
Note: Simultaneously released on 8-track tape, cassette, and 12-inch vinyl LP by Myrrh Records. The album tracks “It Took A Carpenter” and “Guardian Angel” (b/w) were released as a two-sided 45 RPM 7-inch vinyl promotional single by Myrrh Records in 1975.
CREDITS. Produced by Austin Roberts. Recorded at Creative Workshop, Nashville, TN. Engineered by Brent Maher. Arranged by Kim Rose. Cover Painting by J. T. Morrow. Design by Small Wonder Studio. Executive Producer: Billy Ray Hearn.
Musicians: Randy Matthews (Lead Vocals), Kim Rose (Keyboards, Arp, Guitar), Ron Oates (Keyboards), Billy Puett (Recorder, Flute), Billy Sanford (Guitar), Reggie Young (Guitar), Steve Gibson (Guitar), Joe Osborn (Bass), Jerry Carrigan (Drums), Farrell Morris (Percussion). Backing Vocals: Austin Roberts, Bergen White, Buzz Cason, Kim Rose, Randy Matthews.
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